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Why can’t we give classical the same pizzazz as pop

The V&A is banishing musical instruments - as if they don’t fit its trendy new image

Richard Morrison

February 3 2010, 12:00am, The Times

Like the swooning heroine of some Victorian bodice-ripper I've gone from despair to elation to despair again in a week. First cause of despair? I learn that the Victoria and Albert Museum is withdrawing from public view its priceless collection of 260 musical instruments - to make more space for fashion displays. The V&A used to be the world's finest museum of the decorative arts. Now it's where you go to see exhibitions of Kylie Minogue ephemera and Grace Kelly's frocks.

But then, elation! Within days of this decision being made known, 3,000 people signed a petition to Gordon Brown, urging him to give the V&A a sharp kick in its corporate goolies (I paraphrase the actual wording). I am not quite sure where this…

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